351w swap into 3.8 car

[84vert]

hey guys..heres one for you. we just purchased a 1984 mustang lx convertible with the 3.8 v6 and auto trans for $450.00. it runs and we drove it home! I want to install a well built 351w and at trans in it. whats the pros and cons of this since the 351w will be carb and the v6 is TBI?? I know the rear will be changed to a 8.8, maybe a custom built 9". does these TBI cars have the fuel pump in the tank or inline? what about wireing the dist to work? we may purchase a aftermarket c-4 or what one from another vehicle will work? we've owned a 87gt,90lx,98gt and a 80 which i put a 460/c6 in. just looking for advise/help since this one has a computer in it and the 80 didn't.

[bullitt482]

If you have done a 460 in a Fox body, you shouldn't have ANY of these questions to worry about. Just a cake walk.



I'd just go pick up a wiring harness from a donor(yes I said it svtlx) and use it for gauges, starter, etc. I don't know much about the fuel system on a stock 84 6 banger. Maybe someone else will chime in.

[84vert]

Thanks bullitt482...the 460/at was a breeze,slight ding in the trans tunnel to clear a spot on the c6 trans. I used the dist and box from the the donor car it came from,which was a 76 lincoln cont. also i spiced the wires for the gauges,etc and everything worked fine. I assume this one has a computer of some sorts and why i was wondering about the dist and box i should use and if i have to or can do away with the computer and some or all wires from it. I'm not concerned about the fuel pump being inline or in tank as i know the aftermarket has a pickup without the pump. Thanks again Bullitt482 and any other thoughts/ideals from you or anyone else send them my way.

[bullitt482]

Anytime. Oh, and how hard was the actual install of the 460 block and trans. What kind of mounts did you have to make/buy? We have a 385 series block out of a lincoln cont that was never install but it needs serious cleaning first. We will be looking at a donor body to put it in sometime in the next year or two.

[svtlx]

Quote: Originally Posted by 84vert Thanks bullitt482...the 460/at was a breeze,slight ding in the trans tunnel to clear a spot on the c6 trans. I used the dist and box from the the donor car it came from,which was a 76 lincoln cont. also i spiced the wires for the gauges,etc and everything worked fine. I assume this one has a computer of some sorts and why i was wondering about the dist and box i should use and if i have to or can do away with the computer and some or all wires from it. I'm not concerned about the fuel pump being inline or in tank as i know the aftermarket has a pickup without the pump. Thanks again Bullitt482 and any other thoughts/ideals from you or anyone else send them my way.

haha bullit...u knew i would find this post!!!!..as for u 84 vert. if u can get wire diagrams from donor car and the recieving vehicle, i would "just me talk'n here" splice the new wiring directly into the bottom of the dist. block, that way all functions shut on/off with relays as intended from the factory. that's wut i did on my last few conversions....less chance of something catching fire if u wire it to factory spec and location... don't by-pass the fuses and relays if u don't have too...it takes a lil longer to do then engineering your own harness, but it works out alot better in the end and alot safer...at least for efi cars anyway....or i'm sure bullit can hook u up with the appropriate painless wiring link for your application..lol...all seriousness, that really might be a route for you to consider...i dunno...i'm far from the brightest guy on this forum

[A5295]

both bullitt and svt make good points...

Im gonna post something else for you to consider as well - i know the car was TBI, so you may have too much fuel pressure for the carb setup. you can go to your neighborhood oreillys/autozone/kragen and pick up a low pressure regulator pretty cheap. Most carbs need less than 6 psi to run efficiently. Too much pressure, and you run the risk of running really rich, or ruining the seals in your carb. Your TBI pump probably runs 9-15 psi, so you only need to bring it down a bit.

Im by no means a carb guru, but ive owned a couple in my time... had to change pumps on my old 240z, cuz it was putting out too much pressure, and the car ran really really rich. new pump helped, but the dual sidedraft SU's still needed some adjustment to run right. God i miss that car!

anyway, now that ive rambled for a bit, back to topic. Check your fuel pressure, and if its over the recommended press for the carb/engine setup, just get a regulator and turn it down a bit.

[84vert]

it was easy. the only thing was the trans hit the tunnel. a hammer and a small dent here and there was all that was needed. i used every thing from the linc,brackets etc. I got the oilpan,pickup,pump,dipstick tube,motor mounts and long tube hedders from Holcomb motorsports. the 460/c6 was rebuilt back to stock with the exception of a small cam and shiftkit in trans.it fit under the stock hood useing the factory intake,carb,aircleaner. when i intalled a aftermarket intake,carb,air cleaner had to use a cowl hood. i did use the frt springs from a v8 car and 8.8 rear with stock 3.08 gears. the 460 fits with ease. plenty of room!! i used a motorsports rad and two electic fans. its temp stayed at normal level,in traffic, with the factory gauge. never any overheating. i ran 2 1/2 inch pipes with mini-turbo mufflers and no tail pipes,just turn downs.

[84vert]

Thanks A5295, I'm useing the aftermarked pickup assy with no pump attached. I'll be using a electic pump. the 351w has 10.5 pistons,victor jr. heads,comp xtreme cam-294/306-544/558,victor jr intake,750 dp. balanced/blueprinted. maybe a "little" to much motor,lol. Thanks again A5295

[84vert]

Thanks SVTLX. the engine is from my old 83 f150 4X4 which i installed a new crate 351w in. probe inds. claims these are some of the best yr engines to use for HP. so i don't have a donor car,lol.

[svtlx]

Quote: Originally Posted by 84vert Thanks SVTLX. the engine is from my old 83 f150 4X4 which i installed a new crate 351w in. probe inds. claims these are some of the best yr engines to use for HP. so i don't have a donor car,lol.

LOL, my 302 is still in pieces. i'm hope'n my dad gets a new car before i finish the rebuild, he is gonna give me his '96 e-150 w/351 efi. definatley my prefered power plant. and then drop my 9lbs. blower on it..woohoo!!! goodluck with the swap..there r alot of swap parts available out there,i just don't know wut most of them are, i'm so use to being broke and modifying stock parts and electronics to make them work, i don't have a clue of wut good aftermarket stuff is available. personaly, i would do an efi set-up. in my opinion that stuff is more available at salvage yard then some of the more acient/obselete stuff. professional products makes a great inexpensive efi 351intake. less than 400 dollars, mustang specific type install. better flo bench #'s than gt40 and cobra intake. very close to trick-flow performance, with half the price. just my opinion though. u probably already know, but it doesn't have to be late model roller to be fuel injected.

[bullitt482]

Quote: Originally Posted by svtlx LOL, my 302 is still in pieces. i'm hope'n my dad gets a new car before i finish the rebuild, he is gonna give me his '96 e-150 w/351 efi. definatley my prefered power plant. and then drop my 9lbs. blower on it..woohoo!!! goodluck with the swap...

You definately want a newer 351W like yours. That way you wouldn't have to convert it to a roller cam like in the HO Mustangs.

And if it's a roller 351W, you can use the computer, harness, EFI setup, etc. that is on a 302. Same firing order.

1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8

[svtlx]

Quote: Originally Posted by bullitt482 You definately want a newer 351W like yours. That way you wouldn't have to convert it to a roller cam like in the HO Mustangs. And if it's a roller 351W, you can use the computer, harness, EFI setup, etc. that is on a 302. Same firing order. 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8

really?...i thought i had to use the 351 computer & dist....but i could use my e-cam, and other crap....wishful think'n, i'm not hold'n my breath, those 351's don't die easy. i'm hope'n to get it before i h have to buy a new crank and rods for it....but my dad will drive it till the rods punch through the block.

[84vert]

ok guys..we're missing the point here. my main corcern now is wiring the dist to work. can i remove the brains (computer) if it has one or can i bypass it someway without buying a a harness? heck i can buy a race type harness for the whole car if i need too. and no i'll stay with the carb setup, remember it was TBI not FI.

[svtlx]

Quote: Originally Posted by 84vert ok guys..we're missing the point here. my main corcern now is wiring the dist to work. can i remove the brains (computer) if it has one or can i bypass it someway without buying a a harness? heck i can buy a race type harness for the whole car if i need too. and no i'll stay with the carb setup, remember it was TBI not FI.

i'm sorry, i get carried away sometimes as m.e.'s unofficial e.f.i. advocate. u don't have to remove the computer. i would remove it's harness (for a cleaner look) and leave the ecm in place. depending on the ecm's location. it's totaly up to u to remove it or leave it. when we went from an 86 to a 95 cab on my buddies tow truck we left the ecm in place and removed the harness. cleaned up the engine bay, without leave'n a big rectangular hole in the fire wall. he filled ecm harness "connector" with black silicone so the pins wouldn't look rusty...just looks like a black rectangle in the firewall. we wired the stuff from the 86 chassis to the 95 cab. we had to change all the sensors on the motor to 93-95 sensors so that the 95 cab gauges would read the sensors. if u r goin carb., y buy a harness. seems like u could buy a couple rolls of wire, 1-2 rolls of electric tape roll, 5-6ft. of your favorite color of wire loom, soldering iron & solder (optional), & a test light. u should have that thing wired up in 3hrs. or less. unless race harnesses are cheaper than the items i listed, if so, then just get the race harness. personaly, i feel that wiring your own electronics gives you that intimate knowledge of your car and how it operates "electronicaly speaking". so in the future if u have any problems you have a pretty good idea where to look. in my opinion, a plug and play harness doesn't teach u anything about your cars electrical...not to mention, doing your own wiring gives you an opportunity to extend or shorten wires to give u a clean, custom look. that's just my oppinion cause i like wiring and efi in general. however, i do understand that alot of people here don't feel that spending a whole saturday wiring their car is a relaxing experience (like i do..lol). and a race harness may be your in your best interest.

[84vert]

ok..heres a update...351w/c4 is in the car!! used a proform HEI type dist for it.easy one wire hook up for the fire. engine pulled 575hp on the engine dyno...DAMN!! v8 springs in front,8.8 rear with auburn locker,3:73's,33 spine axles, all gauges work correct. putting exhaust on it 7-7-07 and it'll be street ready! thanks for all the infor. now looking for another project....anyone with a 79-93 body for sale??

[bullitt482]

Dammit man, what was done to the 351? Obviously H/C/I and a bore/stroke combo...

[84vert]

lol...no its just 30 over. listed the items i used in a earlier post. did swap out the 750 holley for a 850. balanced,blueprinted. only used name brand parts since the wife gave me the checkbook,lol. i did use longtube headers on it, 2 1/2 inch pipes with 2-chamber flows and turndowns. and it has a 250 hp nos kit installed just in case! now looking for a 79-93 mustang body for our next project!! anyone in North Carolina have one for sale??

[silverstangboy]

whoa!, 2.5" exhaust on a 351 making 575 fwhp? thats a huge restriction...

[bbunt302]

Uh... what's that smell?

[bullitt482]

I think I smell it too......... Reminds me of a barnyard.

[svtlx]

Quote: Originally Posted by bullitt482 I think I smell it too......... Reminds me of a barnyard.

huh? wut smell?.....oh, i'm clean'n the stables...these damn bulls...lmfao